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LOT 0445
Egyptian Diorite Stone Scarab
SAITE PERIOD, 664-525 B.C.
7/8 in. (8.22 grams, 21 mm).
Carved in the round with detailed carapace and legs; not pierced.
ProvenanceAcquired in the mid 1980s-1990s.
Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent.
Private collection, since the late 1990s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Cf. Ben-Tor, D., The Scarab: A Reflection of Ancient Egypt, Tel Aviv, 1993, p. 77, nos. 13-15, for comparable diorite scarabs.
FootnotesThe scarab amulet was arguably the most ubiquitous symbol in ancient Egypt, representing rebirth, transformation, and protection. Modelled after the scarab beetle, which was associated with the sun god Khepri, believed to roll the sun across the sky, the amulet illustrated the cycle of life and regeneration. Scarabs were commonly placed with the deceased as funerary amulets to ensure safe passage into the afterlife. They also served as seals and personal charms, often inscribed with prayers, names, or protective formulas. Widely used from the early Middle Kingdom (c. 2050 BCE) onwards, scarab amulets reflect spiritual beliefs and everyday practices in ancient Egyptian life.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Egyptian Terracotta Oil Lamp
Ptolemaic Period, circa 200-50 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Rounded body with large filler hole and two pointed lugs on the shoulder, the rim with a low-relief ovolo decoration, elongated nozzle with a low-relief pillar motif; low basal ring. 60 grams, 92 mm
with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Egyptian Carnelian Bead Bracelet
Late Period, 664-332 B.C. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £286
Composed mainly of biconical, oblate, and other beads with three larger pendants; with modern gold attachment. 16.4 grams total, 21 cm long
From the private collection of the late Mrs Belinda Ellison, a long time member of the Egyptian Exploration Society, c.1940-2020. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Egyptian Scarab and Amulet Group
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Comprising: a scarab with anatomical detailing to the carapace, underside with a crocodile and two quadrupeds; a rectangular Eye of Horus amulet with domed upper face. 3.04 grams total, 14-16 mm
Norfolk family collection, 1940s-1960s; thence by descent. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
